‘Won’t arrest Rane in Nashik case’

Mumbai, Aug 25 (PTI):
The Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court on Wednesday that it would not take any “coercive action” against Union minister Narayan Rane in an FIR registered in Nashik over his controversial remarks against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. The government’s assurance came a day after the BJP leader was arrested in a case registered against him at Mahad in Raigad district over the same remarks and a local court granted him bail late at night.
On Monday, during his ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ in adjoining Raigad district, Rane had said, It is shameful that the chief minister does not know the year of independence. He leaned back to enquire about the count of years of independence during his (August 15) speech. Had I been there, I would have given (him) a tight slap.” The statement sparked off angry protests by workers of Thackeray-led Shiv Sena across the state and FIRs were filed against Rane at Mahad, Nashik, Thane and Pune.
An editorial in the Sena’s mouthpiece `Saamana’, on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Rane and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should take his statement against the chief minister seriously. Rane’s son, MLA Nitesh Rane, on the other hand, demanded President’s rule in the state after some Yuva Sena activists who had taken part in protests against Rane later met the chief minister. The Bombay High Court on Wednesday heard Rane’s plea seeking to quash the FIR registered against him in Nashik and all other cases that might be lodged in future. Rane also sought interim protection from arrest. Nashik police had issued a notice directing him to remain present before the investigation officer at 12 pm on September 2.